House of Cards' returns for more political dirty deeds (review)

At one point, early on in Season 2 of the political drama “House of Cards,” slimy politician Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) comments on the pitfalls of gaining and retaining power.

“The higher up the mountain,” he says, “the more treacherous the path.”

It’s a line that can just as easily apply to this prestigious show, and to Netflix, the streaming service that produces it.

Last year, Netflix became a media darling, generating big buzz for its fresh batch of original programming and boosting interest in its all-you-can-eat brand of binge viewing. Then the Los Gatos-based digital upstart made noise in the arena of quality programming by nabbing the first major Emmy nominations for online-only shows.

But this is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of business. The calendar flips, and in the race to become the new HBO, you better be ready to bring it every time out. Or as Amy Poehler jokingly warned at the Golden Globes, “Enjoy it while it lasts, Netflix, because you’re not going to be feeling so smug in a couple of years when Snapchat is up here accepting best drama.”

The snazzy “House of Cards” didn’t win any best-drama awards, but it was the series that put Netflix on the map, and it was responsible for most of the company’s Emmy love. Season 2 doesn’t debut until Friday, but Netflix has already ordered a third season.

That’s a putting a lot of faith in a show that, despite the acclaim, did incur some critical flak for the way it stumbled creatively over its latter episodes. And you have to wonder just how long viewers will remain invested in the underhanded — even murderous — machinations of Frank Underwood.

As Season 2 begins, Frank is again so good at being bad. He’s set to go from House majority whip to vice president — a heady leap indeed — but he’s the kind of guy who just won’t be appeased until he lands in the Oval Office. Standing right there at his side and helping him to crush anyone in his way is Claire Underwood (Golden Globe winner Robin Wright), his devoted Lady Macbeth.

Oh, there are some signs of trouble. Lurking in the background is a dogged journalist (Sebastian Arcelus) who is determined to prove that Frank has blood on his hands. Also, a horrendous dark secret from Claire’s college days is about to surface, possibly igniting a public-relations furor. But you get the feeling that the cool-under-fire Underwoods are up to any challenge.

Based on the four episodes made available for advance review, “Cards” is still as handsomely crafted and marvelously acted as ever — even when a smirky Spacey is chatting at the camera. And it still exudes that atmospheric chill, largely because so many scenes are bathed in shadows or filmed at night.

On the other hand, these early episodes don’t quite provoke the same kind of adrenaline rush as last season. That could be because Frank’s “Survivor”-like back-stabbing is beginning to feel a bit repetitive. Or it could be because we’re missing the magnetic presence of Corey Stoll, who was blazingly brilliant as doomed congressman Peter Russo. Warning: The show quickly loses another major character, but we don’t dare tell you who it is, lest Underwood sics his goon on us.

Ultimately, “Cards” would pack much more punch if it gave Frank a formidable adversary. The brilliant sleuth in “Sherlock,” for example, has Moriarty to match wits with, and Sheriff Rick in “The Walking Dead” ran up against the brutally evil Governor. But Frank? No one is in his league.

Sure, the new VP does have his enemies, and he meets resistance on several fronts. But things always seem to fall neatly into place for him. Even his showdowns with the president (Michael Gill) come off as one-sided, because this commander in chief is so wishy washy and easily manipulated.

At least that’s how it’s down gone so far. On the plus side, this season brings us an intriguing new character — a fast-rising congresswoman played by “Deadwood” alum Molly Parker. She’s an agile actress who can deliver a sense of soft-spoken warmth but also a steely fierceness that comes with an underlying message: “Underestimate me at your own peril.”

For now, she and Frank are on the same side, but she shares his scheming, ambitious tendencies. Maybe down the road, she’ll turn the tables and become the kind of worthy rival who can go toe-to-toe with him.